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Fate In Bleach (381)
🕑 Added 2024-12-25 17:00:05 +0000 UTCChapter 381 - Justice
“A truly remarkable Bankai.” Even Kaname Tōsen, despite the pain of the illusionary flames searing his flesh, couldn't help but admire the power of Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi’s Bankai.
“However, compared to mine, yours is… weak!” Tōsen gritted his teeth against the agony and planted his Zanpakutō firmly before him.
The ring on his Zanpakutō’s hilt suddenly expanded.
“Suzumushi Tsuishiki!”
“Bankai – Suzumushi Hyakushiki: Grillar Grillo!”
Boom!
An overwhelming spiritual pressure erupted from Tōsen. The enlarged ring split into eight segments, radiating outwards, unleashing an abyssal darkness that consumed the surrounding area, forming an elliptical, black barrier.
The moment the darkness enveloped him, Rōjūrō’s senses vanished. Sight, sound, smell, touch, spiritual awareness… all gone, leaving only a chilling emptiness. Under such circumstances, his Bnakai ability naturally could no longer be released.
Tōsen lowered his Zanpakutō and whispered, “Within my Bankai, all senses but touch are nullified. All that remains is the agony of my blade.”
He knew Rōjūrō couldn't hear him. But it didn't matter. Explaining his Zanpakutō’s ability was a habit, a source of quiet satisfaction for the blind Shinigami. It was the perfect weapon for him, a gift from a departed friend. Suzumushi, the Cricket, had been that friend’s final legacy.
“What… what is this power?”
Adrift in a sensory void, Rōjūrō had lost all his senses except for touch. Suddenly he remembered Love Aikawa’s account of the attack on the Visored.
Love had described a similar experience, a sudden loss of all senses before being struck from behind. At the time, they had attributed it to Aizen’s Kyōka Suigetsu. Now, however, a terrifying realization dawned on him. Perhaps the attacker hadn't been Aizen, but this blind Shinigami, Kaname Tōsen, a figure almost universally underestimated.
Considering Tōsen’s blindness and his Zanpakutō’s ability, Rōjūrō suspected even Aizen would struggle within this Bankai.
“Arh!”
A sharp pain jolted him back to reality. He deactivated Kinshara Butōdan, releasing his Zanpakutō in its Shikai state, transforming it into a long whip that he coiled defensively around himself. It was a futile gesture, a mere delay of the inevitable.
…
Within the inverted triangular pyramid of Hachigen Ushōda’s Bakudō #73, Tozanshō, the Kidō Corps member paused his treatment of Hiyori Sarugaki. He clapped his hands together, quickly casting two Bakudō #37, Tsuriboshi.
Two orbs of green spiritual energy materialized beneath Lisa Yadōmaru and Mashiro Kuna, shooting out thin threads that formed a net that gently catched the falling Shinigami.
Hachigen hesitated, unsure whether to continue treating Hiyori or attend to the newly injured. Just then, a figure blurred through the air, appearing beside them. With practiced efficiency, the newcomer began healing Lisa. It was Izuru Kira, lieutenant of the Third Division.
With the Visored’s participation, the Shinigami outnumbered the Arrancar. Kira, seeing the injured, had assumed the role of healer. After all, the battlefield didn't lack powerful fighters, but it desperately needed those skilled in Kidō healing.
“Tōsen!”
On the ground, Sajin Komamura looked at the black dome formed by Tōsen’s Bankai in the sky; he roared and raised his Zanpakutō.
“Roar, Tenken!”
A broadsword sword several dozen meters long materialized behind him, mirroring Komamura’s movements. With a single swing, he cleaved through the darkness.
Swoosh!
There was no resistance. Tenken, even in its Shikai state, possessed immense destructive power. Tōsen’s Bankai, while formidable within its confines, lacked external defenses.
The darkness shattered, revealing Tōsen, who raised his Zanpakutō to block Komamura’s attack. The force of the impact sent him flying.
Of all the Gotei 13 captains, Komamura’s Zanpakutō, Tenken, had the smallest difference in power between its Shikai and Bankai. Its Shikai summoned a giant arm and blade, a fraction of the full Bankai’s power, but still a force to be reckoned with.
Now freed from Tōsen’s Bankai, Rōjūrō stumbled in the air as his senses slowly returned, then he plummeted to the ground.
“Well…”
Atop a nearby hotel, Ailin watched the scene while shaking his head.
The Visored… they had truly lived up to their reputation for… underwhelming performances. He had hoped their participation would minimize Gotei 13 casualties. But they had foolishly charged towards Aizen’s strongest subordinates. A captain and three lieutenants down… They were truly… hopeless.
Seeing Tōsen being struck by Komamura, Aizen’s eyes moved, a subtle shift that didn't escape Yamamoto’s notice.
“What’s this, Aizen? Trying to rescue your subordinate? You are still a little naive to want to save someone in front of this old man!"
“All things in creation, turn to ash! Ryūjin Jakka!”
Flames erupted from Yamamoto’s Zanpakutō. With a swing of his blade, he unleashed a wave of fire that split into two arcs, bypassing Aizen before converging behind him, forming a fiery barrier.
“Jokaku Enjō!”
Having temporarily trapped Aizen, Yamamoto sheathed Ryūjin Jakka. He wouldn't confront Aizen directly until his subordinates had been dealt with.
Kyōka Suigetsu’s ability was too dangerous. He couldn’t risk being manipulated, turning on his own Shinigami. He would wait until all of Aizen’s forces were eliminated, until all the Gotei 13 had returned to the Soul Society, leaving only him and Aizen in the replica of Karakura Town. Then, even Kyōka Suigetsu’s illusions would be incinerated by Ryūjin Jakka’s flames.
Shinji Hirako saw Aizen trapped and turned his attention elsewhere. He had intended to confront Aizen directly, but that was no longer possible. Glancing at Love and Kensei battling Gin, his gaze finally settled on Tōsen, who had just been struck by Komamura. He hadn't expected Rōjūrō to lose. If he couldn't fight Aizen yet, he would eliminate his subordinates.
With a flash, Shinji appeared before Tōsen.
“Fall, Sakanade!”
His Zanpakutō pierced Tōsen’s chest.
Confusion flickered across Tōsen’s face. He had sensed Shinji’s attack, had raised his Zanpakutō to block… Why hadn't he felt the impact? Why was he injured? Blinded, he couldn't see that he had raised his left hand, not his Zanpakutō, to defend himself.
Sakanade’s ability was to release a colorless, odorless gas that inverted an opponent’s senses. Their left became their right, forward became backward, up became down. Every action contradicted their intentions.
If Tōsen could see, he would have realized his mistake. But blinded, he was helpless against Sakanade’s power. Every attempt to defend himself resulted in another injury. Within moments, he was covered in wounds, swaying precariously.
“Tōsen!”
At this time, Komamura appeared beside him, and his eyes were full of heartache.
“Tōsen, why? Have you betrayed your own justice?”
Justice. It was a concept they both held dear, the foundation of their friendship. Komamura couldn't comprehend Tōsen’s betrayal. It was a denial of everything they believed in, a betrayal of their shared past, of their departed friend, Kakyō, whose dying wish had been for Tōsen to uphold justice.
“Have you betrayed even her memory?”
With Komamura’s arrival, Shinji deactivated Sakanade. He was satisfied with his Zanpakutō’s ability, its power to manipulate an opponent’s senses. Its only drawback was its indiscriminate nature. Friend and foe alike were affected. Thus, he always fought alone. Allies were only liabilities. Knowing this, the Visored never engaged the same enemy as Shinji. It was a necessary precaution for their own survival.
“Kakyō?”
After hearing Komamura’s question, Tosen fell silent. Perhaps there was still a chance to reason with him. But then, Tōsen erupted.
“Komamura, don’t impose your ideals on me! I’ve always pursued justice, my own justice! The Gotei 13’s justice is not mine! Only Aizen-sama embodies true justice! The Gotei 13’s justice is a mockery of Kakyō’s! If she were here, she would have made the same choice!”
Tōsen placed his hand on his face, then ripped it downwards.
Boom!
An overwhelming spiritual pressure exploded from him. A white mask, devoid of features save for a single, vertical slit revealing an abyssal darkness, appeared on his face.
“Tōsen…” Komamura’s voice was filled with despair. Tōsen, like the Arrancar, had undergone Hollowfication.
Unlike Shinji and the other Visored, who had been unwilling test subjects, Tōsen had willingly submitted to Aizen’s experiments, seeking greater power.
“Tōsen, ask yourself, is this power… truly just?”
Tōsen didn't answer. Instead he raised his Zanpakutō and pointed it at Komamura.
